The Sox scored nine runs in their six losses and got blanked for the second time in four games.

The latest offensive shortcomings could have some immediate ramifications, considering Guillen's displeasure with the lack of production at second base.

Juan Uribe's shaky status became more magnified when he didn't score from third on Orlando Cabrera's ground ball to shortstop David Eckstein with Toby Hall at second and no outs in the third.

Television cameras caught Cabrera glaring back at third while running to first before he was retired.

"I thought the pitcher (Dustin McGowan) might get it; that's why I stopped," said Uribe, who had two hits but is hitting .181 while earning $4.5 million this season. "It's my fault."

Uribe added he didn't want to run the Sox out of a potentially big rally with the top of the order due up. But Carlos Quentin followed Cabrera by flying to shallow right, and Jim Thome struck out.

In the ninth, the Sox drew three consecutive walks before Ozuna (.172) ended it.

That was the capper to a six-game skid in which the Sox wasted exceptional starting efforts from Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras and Javier Vazquez, who came within one out of pitching the Sox's third complete game in this four-game series.

Vazquez (3-3) has received three runs of support in his last three starts. His 115th pitch in the eighth was clocked at 97 m.p.h.

"We've got to keep our heads up," said Vazquez, who was tagged for a solo homer by Matt Stairs in the seventh. "That's the first thing we've got to do. 2007 is over."

Yet the last time the Sox were swept on a six-game trip was only last August at Oakland and Seattle.

In the biggest lineup shakeup of a young season, Nick Swisher was dropped from the leadoff spot for the first time this season to a more familiar sixth spot. Cabrera moved from second to the leadoff spot for the first time since Sept. 4, 2007, with the Los Angeles Angels.

Quentin jumped from seventh to second. Those changes came before third baseman Joe Crede was scratched because of a migraine headache, but the Sox's problems are more acute.

"The only thing that makes me sad is the way we pitched, and we cannot help our pitching staff win games since we left Chicago," said Guillen, who joked later that coaches Harold Baines and Greg Walker could be in Tuesday night's lineup.